The Australian Government is looking to encourage foreign investment into Australia through the introduction of a new visa pathway for individuals who make substantial investments in Australia. The "Significant Investor Visa" (SIV) was introduced in November 2012 to facilitate migration by individuals who are willing to invest at least AUD5 million in Australia.

The SIV is likely to drive demand for investment opportunities in Australia and may provide fund managers with an additional source of assets. Fund managers wishing to capitalise on this demand will need to create complying investment structures and assist individuals to satisfy the criteria for the SIV.

Complying investments

SIV applicants must invest at least AUD5 million in "complying investments", which include:

- direct investment in government bonds issued by the Australian Government or an Australian State or Territory government

- direct investment in unlisted Australian companies

- investment certain Australian regulated managed funds.